XXV710DA1BLK Intel 1 Port 25 Gigabit Ethernet SFP28 PCI-Express Adapter

Intel 1 Port 25GB SFP28 PCI-Express Adapter

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK is a high‑performance 25 Gigabit Ethernet network adapter engineered for modern data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise‑grade infrastructures. Featuring a single SFP28 port and PCI‑Express connectivity, this converged adapter delivers exceptional throughput, advanced virtualization support, and optimized packet processing for demanding workloads.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Intel
• Part Number: XXV710DA1BLK
• Device Type: 25GbE Network Adapter

Technical Information

• Plug‑in Card – Low Profile
• PCI Express 3.0 x8 Interface
• PCIe 3.0 Specification Revision

Networking Capabilities

• Port Configuration: 1 x 25 Gigabit SFP28
• Connectivity Technology: Wired
• Cabling Type: Ethernet 25GBASE‑SR, 25GBASE‑LR
• Data Link Protocol: 25 Gigabit LAN
• Data Transfer Rate: 25 Gbps
• Supported Protocols: iSCSI, NFS
• Status Indicators: Link/Activity, Port Speed

Advanced Features

• MPLS Support
• VLAN Tagging Support
• IPv4 & IPv6 Compatibility
• TCP/IP Offloading
• Checksum Offload
• Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB)
• Extended MSI‑X Interrupts
• UDP/IP Offloading
• Intel Flow Director for intelligent traffic steering
• Flexible Port Partitioning (FPP)
• Intelligent Offloads for optimized performance

Virtualization Enhancements

• Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR‑IOV)
• Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq)
• Intel Virtualization Technology for Connectivity (VT‑c)
• Data Direct I/O Technology (DDIO)
• iSCSI Boot Support
• VXLAN & NVGRE Network Virtualization

Compliance & Standards

• IEEE 802.1Q (VLAN)
• IEEE 802.1P (QoS)
• IEEE 802.3ad (LACP)
• IEEE 802.1AS
• IEEE 802.1Qbg
• IEEE 802.3by

Expansion & Connectivity

• 1 x 25Gb Ethernet – SFP28

Key Advantages

• High‑speed 25GbE performance for next‑generation workloads
• Low‑profile design ideal for compact server environments
• Advanced virtualization and offload capabilities
• Optimized for cloud, NFV, and enterprise applications
• Reliable SFP28 connectivity with flexible cabling options

Intel XXV710DA1BLK 1Port 25GB SFP28 PCIE Adapter Overview

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK 1 Port 25 Gigabit Ethernet SFP28 PCI-Express Converged Network Adapter represents a high-performance networking solution designed for modern enterprise, cloud, and hyperscale data center environments. Built on Intel’s advanced Ethernet controller architecture, this adapter is engineered to deliver ultra-low latency, high throughput, and enhanced efficiency for bandwidth-intensive workloads. It is positioned within the 25GbE network adapter category, which is rapidly becoming a standard upgrade path for organizations transitioning from 10GbE infrastructure toward higher-density, scalable networking architectures.

As digital transformation accelerates, enterprises require network components capable of handling virtualization, software-defined networking, cloud-native applications, and high-speed storage access. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK addresses these requirements by offering a robust single-port SFP28 interface optimized for fiber connectivity and PCI Express integration, ensuring seamless compatibility with modern server platforms.

Architecture and Design Principles of Intel XXV710 Series

Advanced Controller-Based Networking Architecture

At the core of the Intel XXV710DA1BLK adapter lies Intel’s high-efficiency Ethernet controller architecture, which is optimized for packet processing, load balancing, and offloading compute tasks from the host CPU. This design allows servers to dedicate more processing resources to application workloads rather than network overhead. The architecture is engineered to support scalable cloud environments where consistent packet throughput and deterministic latency are critical.

PCI Express Interface Optimization

The adapter utilizes a PCI Express interface designed to maximize data transfer efficiency between the network card and system memory. By leveraging multiple PCIe lanes, the device ensures that 25 Gigabit Ethernet traffic is transmitted with minimal bottlenecks. This high-bandwidth connection is essential for modern server environments running virtualization platforms, distributed databases, and real-time analytics systems.

Efficient Lane Utilization

The PCIe interface is structured to minimize overhead while maintaining stable throughput under sustained network loads. This makes the adapter suitable for continuous operation in mission-critical systems where network consistency is more important than peak burst performance alone.

SFP28 Optical Interface Integration

The inclusion of an SFP28 port enables the Intel XXV710DA1BLK to support high-speed optical transceivers and direct attach copper cables. This flexibility allows data center operators to choose between short-range and long-range connectivity options based on deployment needs. SFP28 is widely adopted in 25GbE infrastructure due to its balance of speed, power efficiency, and compatibility with existing fiber ecosystems.

Performance Characteristics and Throughput Capabilities

High-Bandwidth Data Transmission

The 25 Gigabit per second throughput capability of the Intel XXV710DA1BLK provides a significant performance upgrade compared to traditional 10GbE adapters. This increased bandwidth supports higher VM density, faster storage access, and improved east-west traffic handling in distributed computing environments.

Low Latency Networking Performance

Latency reduction is a critical design focus for the Intel XXV710 series. By optimizing packet processing pipelines and minimizing interrupt overhead, the adapter achieves highly responsive communication between servers. This is particularly beneficial for financial trading systems, real-time analytics platforms, and latency-sensitive cloud services.

Jumbo Frame Support and Efficient Packet Handling

The adapter supports advanced frame handling techniques that reduce CPU utilization while improving throughput efficiency. Jumbo frame compatibility enables larger packet sizes, which reduces fragmentation and improves performance in high-volume data transfers such as backup operations and distributed storage synchronization.

Scalability for Data Center Growth

Modern data centers require scalable networking components that can grow alongside increasing demand. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK supports scalable deployment strategies, allowing organizations to upgrade network performance without replacing entire infrastructure stacks. This makes it an ideal transitional technology between 10GbE and 100GbE environments.

Cloud Computing and Virtualization Optimization

Support for Virtual Machine Density

Virtualization environments benefit significantly from high-speed network adapters like the Intel XXV710DA1BLK. The increased bandwidth allows for greater VM density per host without introducing network congestion. This is particularly important in cloud service provider environments where resource optimization directly impacts operational cost efficiency.

Network Function Offloading Capabilities

The adapter is engineered to offload various networking functions from the CPU, including checksum calculations, segmentation tasks, and packet classification. This reduces server overhead and allows hypervisors to allocate more compute resources to tenant workloads.

Enhanced Hypervisor Compatibility

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK is widely compatible with leading virtualization platforms, enabling seamless integration into existing cloud infrastructures. This ensures consistent performance across multi-tenant environments where workload isolation and network efficiency are essential.

Software-Defined Networking Integration

Software-defined networking architectures rely heavily on programmable and flexible network interfaces. The adapter supports SDN frameworks by enabling dynamic traffic control and efficient packet routing across virtualized environments, contributing to improved network agility and automation.

Storage Networking and Data Intensive Workloads

High-Speed Storage Access Acceleration

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK is particularly effective in environments that require rapid access to distributed storage systems. Its 25GbE bandwidth ensures that storage replication, backup, and retrieval operations occur with minimal delay, significantly improving overall system responsiveness.

Compatibility with Distributed Storage Architectures

Modern storage systems often rely on network-based architectures such as object storage, software-defined storage, and hyper-converged infrastructure. The adapter provides the necessary bandwidth to support these systems efficiently, ensuring that storage nodes communicate without bottlenecks.

Optimized Data Replication Performance

In large-scale environments, data replication across nodes must occur continuously and reliably. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK enhances replication performance by reducing congestion and maintaining consistent throughput even under heavy workloads.

Support for High IOPS Environments

High Input/Output Operations Per Second workloads, such as database clusters and analytics engines, benefit from the adapter’s ability to maintain stable low-latency connections. This ensures predictable performance in environments where data access speed is critical.

Enterprise Deployment and Data Center Integration

Rack-Level Networking Efficiency

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK is designed for integration into rack-mounted server environments where high-density networking is required. Its compact PCIe form factor allows deployment across multiple server nodes without increasing physical space requirements.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Optimization

Energy consumption is a key consideration in enterprise data centers. The adapter is engineered with power-efficient components that minimize thermal output while maintaining high performance. This contributes to reduced cooling costs and improved overall infrastructure efficiency.

Thermal Load Balancing in Server Environments

By maintaining stable operating temperatures under heavy workloads, the adapter helps reduce thermal hotspots within server racks. This enhances hardware longevity and system reliability over extended operational periods.

High Availability Networking Environments

Enterprise environments often require redundant and resilient networking configurations. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK supports high availability architectures by ensuring stable connectivity and failover readiness when deployed alongside redundant network paths.

Driver Support and Operating System Compatibility

Broad Operating System Support

The adapter is supported across a wide range of operating systems commonly used in enterprise environments, including Linux distributions, Windows Server editions, and virtualization hypervisors. This broad compatibility ensures smooth deployment across heterogeneous infrastructures.

Driver Optimization for Performance Tuning

Intel provides optimized driver packages that enhance packet processing efficiency and enable advanced configuration options. These drivers allow administrators to fine-tune network performance according to workload requirements.

Firmware and Software Update Management

Regular firmware updates ensure that the adapter remains compatible with evolving network standards and security requirements. This helps maintain long-term stability and performance in enterprise deployments.

Management and Monitoring Capabilities

Network administrators benefit from advanced monitoring tools that provide visibility into traffic patterns, error rates, and performance metrics. These capabilities support proactive network management and troubleshooting.

Security Features and Data Protection

Hardware-Assisted Security Processing

The Intel XXV710DA1BLK incorporates hardware-based security acceleration features that help protect data in transit while reducing CPU overhead. This is essential in environments where encrypted communication is required at scale.

Secure Network Segmentation

In multi-tenant environments, secure segmentation is critical to maintaining isolation between workloads. The adapter supports advanced traffic segmentation capabilities that help enforce security boundaries within shared infrastructure.

Protection Against Network-Level Threats

By supporting advanced filtering and packet inspection capabilities, the adapter contributes to improved defense against unauthorized network activity and potential intrusion attempts.

Use Cases in Modern IT Infrastructure

Cloud Service Provider Environments

Cloud providers rely on high-density networking to support thousands of virtual machines and containerized applications. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK delivers the necessary throughput and scalability for these environments, ensuring consistent service delivery.

Enterprise Data Centers

Large enterprises use 25GbE adapters to modernize their infrastructure and eliminate bottlenecks associated with older 1GbE and 10GbE networks. This adapter supports that transition by offering a balanced combination of performance and compatibility.

High-Performance Computing Clusters

HPC environments require extremely fast inter-node communication. The adapter’s low latency and high bandwidth capabilities make it suitable for scientific computing, simulation workloads, and AI training clusters.

AI and Machine Learning Workloads

Machine learning workloads require rapid data ingestion and distributed processing across multiple nodes. The Intel XXV710DA1BLK ensures efficient data transfer between compute nodes, improving training performance and reducing synchronization delays.